Artcore Club

[HoHumbucker]

Welcome!

That's a fine looking AGB200 in flat black!

@HoHumbucker

You have been issued member #32 in the Ibanez Artcore Bass Club .

Thank you so much. /sig updated.

 

[dave64o]

NBD!!!
Ibanez AGB200
As I posted previously, I was looking at the AGB200, but got distracted by the Guild SF1 and the Hofner Verythin. I had decided that I was going to wait until the holidays when I would be in bigger cities where I had a chance to try some of these out.
But then today I stopped into Music-Go-Round to look for a couple other things, and there on the bass rack it was. A flat black AGB200 for 1/2 the new price. I had one of those movie moments, time slows, spotlight shines, dramatic background music (at least all in my head).

I played it for a bit. There is a little fret buzz on the E-string around the G and A frets. There was another customer there, with far better skills than me, looking at higher end basses. I asked him what he thought of this particular one. He liked it a lot. Said the action was very low which is likely the cause of the fret buzz. He said he would buy this one if he were looking for a semi-hollow. So I bought it (and a $20 gig bag to survive the trip home). WooHoo! Unexpected, but pretty exciting.

Pretty sharp looking. Not as light as a Hofner Verythin would be, but about the same as my G2220 solid-body.
Weight: 3.44kg (in useful units), 7lb 9.4 oz (in Imperial units)

Now time to get a set of flat wounds (I like the LaBella DTFs on my G2220. Likely go with that unless someone has other suggestions). And also take a look at some minor adjustments to get rid of some of the fret buzz.

View attachment 5266377
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There is also a bit of adjustment that might need to be made to the bridge pickup (bridge is to the right in the photo). You can see that there is a tilt to the surface. I will look at that when I do the string swap. Not sure if that makes much difference or not. There does not appear to be a huge difference in output between the two pickups as it sits currently.
View attachment 5266384

The matte black finish is really nice!

I love flats on my AGB-205. I do like Labella DTFs in general and how they sounded on that bass. But I put a set of Chromes on it and have been really happy with how they sound. They have some thump to them but are also brighter than most flats so you still get some note articulation. They don’t have the same kind of vintage tone of the DTFs, but I think the highs help.

Congrats!

 

[mrperkolator]

Thank you so much. /sig updated.

a slightly high fret could cause the buzzing. I’m not great at fret jobs… I’ve done one to a ubass I think was successful. There’s a place near me that will plek the frets and get them closer to level than a human could. $250 for plek and setup (current 2023 price) isn’t too bad.

edit: no they can’t plek a ubass. That’s why I made my own notched straight edge and did my own fret job…

 

[Michael Vee]

Not only the flat black AGB-200, but HoHum is also playing through a new Genzler BA-10-2 combo amp. I just came from the Genzler thread and can attest to this. What a terrific combination. HoHum.. pose your Ibanez nect to your combo and post the pic here!

 

[HoHumbucker]

Not only the flat black AGB-200, but HoHum is also playing through a new Genzler BA-10-2 combo amp. I just came from the Genzler thread and can attest to this. What a terrific combination. HoHum.. pose your Ibanez nect to your combo and post the pic here!

Fair enough. This is a great combination--well beyond my current skill level (but something to strive for, eh?). Now to get flatwounds on her and get a tune up. Then ready to go.

 

[Michael Vee]

Wow! What a bass and amp combination!

I have the bass and amp combination too, but in two other AGB200 colors.

Also, what is that stand you have the Genzler combo on? I usually use my Link Removed, but I like that stand.

My first AGB200 was over ten years ago. I just got the Genzler combo a year ago. I'm still getting the hang of all this together.

 

[HoHumbucker]

Wow!

Also, what is that little plastic stand you have the Genzler combo on?

I usually use my Auralex Baby Gramma.

a $10 folding footstool from the hardware store. Something like this.
At some point I will likely look for some sort of acoustic isolation, but for now this will work.

 

[dave64o]

FWIW, I use the same folding stand (actually a pair of them side-by-side) and I put and Auralex pad on top. For one thing, it helps to isolate the cabinet(s) on a boomy stage/floor and, second, it helps make a more stable platform for my cabinet(s) to sit on. I know, it's hard to believe that not all stages/floors are smooth and level.

 

[HoHumbucker]

The matte black finish is really nice!

I love flats on my AGB-205. I do like Labella DTFs in general and how they sounded on that bass. But I put a set of Chromes on it and have been really happy with how they sound. They have some thump to them but are also brighter than most flats so you still get some note articulation. They don’t have the same kind of vintage tone of the DTFs, but I think the highs help.

Congrats!

Question about the strings.
I like the LB DTF I have on my G2220. If I read correctly, I need medium scale strings for the AGB200. That would leave the LB Beatle flats as the option. There are two gauges. Curious if the hive mind has a preference on the lighter gauge (what I might buy given my own devices and lack of knowledge), or would the heavier gauge strings be more appropriate for the AGB?

 

[mrperkolator]

Question about the strings.
I like the LB DTF I have on my G2220. If I read correctly, I need medium scale strings for the AGB200. That would leave the LB Beatle flats as the option. There are two gauges. Curious if the hive mind has a preference on the lighter gauge (what I might buy given my own devices and lack of knowledge), or would the heavier gauge strings be more appropriate for the AGB?

I believe the beatle flats and medium flats are different at La Bella. The beatle flats have a taper at ball end and smaller wire for tuners… I might be off a bit. I do remember there’s a difference to the “normal” dtf mediums.

 

[Geogio]

Here's my 2019, with Labella 760FL-S "Lights" a .104 low E. It came set up with these (previously owned, but not for long). There was some dust on the nut... so I'm guessing the original strings may have been lighter and probably roundwound from the factory.

I think I would have prefer the p/u switch to be on the upper bout like a Les Paul guitar, I've never had a switch on a bass before with the exception of the Godin classic switch that I rarely use ( it's on consignment for the holidays). Hitting the switch in the upper bout is just innate at this point my playing life... I have to look down to where this AFB switch is currently located... I'm just going to have to get used to that.

 

[B-Mac]

I think I would have prefer the p/u switch to be on the upper bout like a Les Paul guitar, I've never had a switch on a bass before with the exception of the Godin classic switch that I rarely use ( it's on consignment for the holidays ). Hitting the switch in the upper bout is just innate at this point my playing life... I have to look down to where this AFB switch is currently located... I'm just going to have to get used to that.

View attachment 5271158

Seems like different manufacturers like to do this, including knobs. Gretsch and Eastwood will have two vol knobs plus a master vol knob and sometimes they'll have the same setup with the tone control(s).

I own quite a few basses that are different from each other, so it is definitely something to get used to.

 

[B-Mac]

Here's my 2019, with Labella 760FL-S "Lights" a .104 low E. It came set up with these (previously owned, but not for long). There was some dust on the nut... so I'm guessing the original strings may have been lighter and probably roundwound from the factory.

I think I would have prefer the p/u switch to be on the upper bout like a Les Paul guitar, I've never had a switch on a bass before with the exception of the Godin classic switch that I rarely use ( it's on consignment for the holidays). Hitting the switch in the upper bout is just innate at this point my playing life... I have to look down to where this AFB switch is currently located... I'm just going to have to get used to that.

View attachment 5271158

Sweet!

 

[John Stephen]

Wow, that is a beautiful shot @Geogio. And is that a scarlet tanager in your avatar photo? They were my favorite bird, growing up in Pennsylvania.

 

[Geogio]

It is a Scarlet tanager, the females are olive color and just a couple years ago they started showing up in the yard. I have always had a lot of cardinals and bluebirds and gold finches. This year I had some blue jays and I had two grouse, and more doves... so things are changing I am not sure why, but it's very interesting around here in the summertime. Quite a few rabbits too & Deer on occasion. I hear there's blackbear but I haven't seen any sign.

About 10 years ago a friend of mine was driving home he lives on the street behind me, the Lots here or 3/4 acre.... so... he's driving home and an Emu comes trotting up alongside of his Wrangler and he got a picture of it running alongside... in front of the house just behind me, we went looking for it couldn't find it there have been Emu farms around here in the past and there are several stories of Emu sightings around the county. A fourth grader brought an Emu egg to show and tell. The teacher who lives down the street was telling me about that..

Cheers!

 

[tellheryousawme]

Hello everybody.
I'm glad I found this club, I'm a big fan of Artcore basses.
I have had three AGB200s and one AFB200, sold.
Today I have an AFBV200A and a rare fretless AFB200F, which I love.
The AFBV200A has nice "aged chrome" tuners, while the AFB200F has horrible white plastic tuners buttons, which are also spinning a bit loose. Has anyone ever managed to replace these knobs?
Thanks anyone who wants to reply.
Luciano

 

[B-Mac]

Hello everybody.
I'm glad I found this club, I'm a big fan of Artcore basses.
I have had three AGB200s and one AFB200, sold.
Today I have an AFBV200A and a rare fretless AFB200F, which I love.
The AFBV200A has nice "aged chrome" tuners, while the AFB200F has horrible white plastic tuners buttons, which are also spinning a bit loose. Has anyone ever managed to replace these knobs?
Thanks anyone who wants to reply.
Luciano

White plastic tuner handles? I’m afraid they’re part of the overall ‘look’ of all Artcore basses made.
I actually like them as they’re different from all of my other Semi-hollow and Hollow body basses, which either have chrome full size or chrome mini size handles.

Not sure what would be an easy reversible mod drop in tuner.

 

[B-Mac]

Hello everybody.
I'm glad I found this club, I'm a big fan of Artcore basses.
I have had three AGB200s and one AFB200, sold.
Today I have an AFBV200A and a rare fretless AFB200F, which I love.
The AFBV200A has nice "aged chrome" tuners, while the AFB200F has horrible white plastic tuners buttons, which are also spinning a bit loose. Has anyone ever managed to replace these knobs?
Thanks anyone who wants to reply.
Luciano

There’s an old saying here on Talk Bass… pix or it didn’t happen. I’d love to see the fretless AFB200F as I have never seen one nor ever seen one in any catalog (at least that I remember). It might not have been available ever in the USA, but available elsewhere in the world. Maybe @hypercarrots could shed some light on this?

Love to see some pix.
We’re quite a visually oriented bunch here.

 

[tellheryousawme]

There’s an old saying here on Talk Bass… pix or it didn’t happen. I’d love to see the fretless AFB200F as I have never seen one nor ever seen one in any catalog (at least that I remember). It might not have been available ever in the USA, but available elsewhere in the world. Maybe @hypercarrots could shed some light on this?

Love to see some pix.
We’re quite a visually oriented bunch here.

Here we are.
I have been on the hunt for this baby since the moment I learned of its existence, more than years ago. While waiting, I also defretted an AGB200, but it didn't sound as I was expecting.
AFB200F is a dream.
Hope you all love it too.

 

[Michael Vee]

Here we are. AFB200F is a dream.
Hope you all love it too.

Bring this one back, Ibanez!